Mercersburg VFW closes bar, to sell building

MERCERSBURG&GT;&GT; The Mercersburg VFW has closed its restaurant and bar.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Clarence Armstrong Post 6241 will keep its charter, but plans to sell its building and equipment at 20 Veterans Way, according to Gary Smith, post past commander and current state commander of the Pennsylvania Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"We had a realtor look at it," Smith said. "We'll see what they come up with."

The VFW closed its doors on June 1 for "lack of business," according to Smith.

"There were a lot of personality conflicts," he said. "Some people in the community started bad rumors. We figured there wasn't any point in trying to go on. People kept talking the club down. We got tired of it and shut it down."

Smith said that the Mercersburg VFW is not alone.

"It's happening throughout the state in different areas," Smith said. "They're shutting down their bars because of the expense of keeping them open. A lot of clubs are seeing a decline in business. I assume the economy has a lot to do with it."

The approximately 490 VFW posts in Pennsylvania have 95,000 members.

The local VFW will continue to support "certain functions in the community," but must cutback for awhile, Smith said. Fund raisers will continue.

The VFW may sell the building and reopen in a new location at a future date, he said. The realtor will consider selling the operation and building together, or auctioning the equipment and selling the real estate separately. The restaurant can seat 125. two meeting rooms are downstairs.

Advertisement

Smith said the VFW will hold onto its club liquor license.

Smith said the closing is "not really" related to the club's small games of chance violations in 2009. The state Liquor Control Board banned alcohol sales at the club for a month in 2012.

Chartered in 1946, the Mercersburg VFW has 320 post members and about 200 in the auxiliary. There had been 700 social members who paid dues to frequent the restaurant and bar.

ODESSA, Texas (AP) — A West Texas man has been charged with impersonating an officer by using sirens and flashing lights to skip to the head of the drive-thru line at a fast-food restaurant. Full Story